166 Captive (Three)
The night is cool and serene, with the bright moon hanging in the sky.
The Son of Heaven's anger is not to be underestimated, and it can be terrifying. On the Dragon Boat Festival that year, after a few slaves died from a bee attack, within two days, those who were guilty of disrespecting the emperor, colliding with the master, and abandoning their lord in times of crisis were executed by flogging. This was the internal punishment. Externally, the unexpected handling of the bee attack on the Dragon Boat Festival resulted in only a few princes being demoted and dismissed from their positions for having close relations with Prince Li Xianhui.
As for Hongsheng, the eldest son of Prince Zhuang, this person has been close to Hongxi since he was deprived of his title as Crown Prince in the fourth year of Yongzheng. He originally retained the title of Beile, but now he has been demoted to a non-entry eighth-grade town prince, downgrading four levels. The little difference in managing the firearms camp was also removed, and only the title of Zhenghuangqi Manchu Deputy General was left on his body. Another one is Hongchang, who was demoted from Beizi to a non-entry eighth-grade auxiliary country duke, also falling by four levels. This is the biggest blow he suffered after his wife, Nala, died in January. Although Prince Zhuang's eldest son, Hongpu, still managed the affairs of the Manchu General of the Blue Banner, his title as Beizi was demoted one level and became a Feng'en Town Prince.
There was also a guard Si Bo who was dismissed from his post, he was the seventh son of Prince Cheng, in September 1722, he was adopted by Niya Ha (great-grandson of Fei Suo, the sixteenth son of Taizu), after Prince Cheng's death, this adopted-out son had close contact with Hong Xi... It is ironic that the father of this seemingly loyal follower of Hong Xi was on opposing sides with the Crown Prince during the struggle for succession.
When something happens to this person, many relatives who don't know the inside story also understand that the incident during the Dragon Boat Festival is related to Li Xianwang Hongyi, and the reason why those people were demoted earlier was because the emperor was trying to intimidate them.
After returning to the mansion, Hong Sheng sullenly faced his cousin, Prince Heng, who had come to visit him: "You always advise me to restrain my temper, but look, even if I do nothing, he won't let me off. Not entering the Eight Rank Town Country Duke, does Grandfather care?!" He coldly laughed repeatedly.
Constant King's body has been weak in recent years, and the only worry is this eldest son. Seeing that he still doesn't repent, it's a great headache. "This time, it's not just you who will suffer. You think you're clever, but you haven't seen clearly. This isn't about whether you do or don't do something, it's about the Emperor's determination to weaken Honghui's power. If you continue to get involved with him, you'll end up on the same path as Hongshi." He said in a low voice.
Hong Sheng was shocked. Yes, the emperor could be so ruthless to his own son, how could he himself escape? But a stubborn spirit in his heart flared up instead, and he hated to say: "He is the emperor, naturally he can do whatever he wants."
"Under the heavens, everything is the king's land; within the borders of the land, everyone is the king's subject. If the king wants a minister to die, then that minister cannot but die. Who do you think you are? Just the eldest son of a prince, with some achievements and contributions, or perhaps having saved the emperor before, yet daring to imagine that the emperor would look at you differently, harboring special considerations for you?"
His eyes reddened and he gasped twice, Hong Sheng turned his head in disarray, "I didn't think that!"
"That's what you think! You think you're superior, that you have a lot of talent that can't be used, you think following Hong Hui... he will make you an Iron Hat King in the future!"
Even if he really thought so in his heart, under his father's sarcastic gaze, Hong Sheng suddenly felt that his own self-importance was just deceiving himself. However, when the Holy Ancestor was still alive, he was personally appointed as the Crown Prince by him, but now everyone looked down on him, and their eyes seemed to be laughing at him! He could understand Hong Hui's ambition, really, a great man cannot be without power for a day, especially for them, the dragon sons and grandsons, who lost to whom? Why do some people stand high above, while others have to sink into the mud?!
"No matter how I think about it, I didn't commit a crime but was stripped of my title - this is the truth!"
"Who says you're not wrong! You, Hongchang, Hongpu, your crime is 'forming a clique'! The Emperor's 'guilt by association' treatment isn't unfair, is it?!" Prince Heng was known for his gentle and non-confrontational nature, but that didn't mean he lacked cunning or strategy. In fact, anyone who could navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial court from the late reign of the Holy Ancestor to the present day without getting caught in the crossfire couldn't be simple-minded. With a hint of venom, he said: "Don't treat all your relatives like fools. You should consider yourself lucky that the Dragon Boat Festival bee attack didn't result in too many casualties. Otherwise, it would be hard to placate the anger of the imperial clan!"
That day, many children who watched the dragon boat racing were only two or three years old. If such a young child was stung by several wasps, even if they could save their lives, they would likely suffer greatly. The Aixinjueluo family never lacked children who died young every year, and what the men of the Aixinjueluo family hated most was also the loss of their sons. Moreover, on that Dragon Boat Festival day, the emperor and his consorts were present at Fuhai, a grand dragon boat racing area that was rarely seen in over a decade. Many members of the royal family, including princes, dukes, and imperial consorts, all went to join in the excitement... Hong Xi was disregarding everyone's lives.
"Is this what he did?!" Hong Sheng was somewhat shocked, "His family's Xiao Shi wasn't also on that day——" He himself had one wife and three concubines, and after twenty years of marriage, he only had three sons. A few years ago, his second son died suddenly from an illness, and his eldest son is now only six years old. He deeply felt the difficulty and thinness of having descendants, and although he was strict with his sons on the surface, in reality, he loved them dearly and couldn't believe that someone could be ruthless enough to use their own son as a pawn to be sacrificed.
"So, he's ruthless and cruel, the lives of his loved ones have never been in his eyes." Prince Heng ignored his shocked face, slightly curled up the corner of his mouth, "This nephew has grown rapidly since the second brother was abolished that year, and these years have not been wasted, and he has made great progress."
"Get up, you're not going to live much longer either. I don't mind separating from the family early and living a peaceful life. Just be obedient and don't go out anymore. Otherwise, pack your bags and get lost as soon as possible, so as not to drag others down with you."
He has some talent, but unfortunately, he doesn't know the times and often does things that are not suitable for the occasion. At the beginning of the emperor's reign, when he needed people to support him, he himself avoided getting involved in too many political affairs because of his mother and ninth brother. However, this eldest son, because of these superficial reasons, handled everything carelessly and perfunctorily, which greatly angered the emperor who was already in a difficult situation. In the fourth year of Yongzheng, he was stripped of his position as crown prince. In recent years, he has also been colluding with Hongxi...
I hope this demotion and dismissal can wake him up a bit.
Looking at his father's thin and distant back, Hong Sheng slammed his hand on the table and sat down in a chair. He knew that this was the last time his father would speak to him like this, and from now on he really wouldn't care about himself anymore. Although he held the position of eldest son, his younger brothers Hong Rui, Hong Yang, Hong Ye, and Hong Yan were not stupid either, and his father couldn't always stand behind him... He had understood this as early as the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign.
It's just that I'm not reconciled to it myself...
Once also a prince's son, but because of his young and arrogant fall from the clouds, can't turn over, could it be that he only brought shame to his father, not pride?
Thinking of his mother who lost favor because of Gualgiya, Hong Cheng clenched his fists tightly. The resentment that had been supporting him for so many years was this sense of injustice. Why should Gualgiya and her son receive their father's love, while his own mother lived in a cold courtyard for years, and he himself was swept out the door?
Sometimes I wish I could destroy everything!
With his hand on his forehead, how should he proceed with the path ahead? Should he just admit defeat? He couldn't do that. Was he really going to follow Honghui's lead all the way? Just as his father had said, the Emperor had been wary of Honghui for a long time and had been enduring... Apparently, the Emperor's patience had reached its limit. With the Emperor's methods, if they were determined to take action, there would be no chance of luck or escape. No wonder that over the past two years, his own power had been increasingly restricted, and the bad premonition in his heart was true...
All along, he looked down on Hong Hui, who had entered the Imperial Guard early and became a deputy commander after more than a decade. He thought that leading the army to guard the capital was just like being a patrol officer catching thieves, which was something that people without abilities would do. Those with real capabilities would have already made their mark in the northwest or Macau. But now, he slowly began to think that Hong Hui's ability to walk steadily and unimpeded all the way to the present was also impressive. At least in terms of stability, he couldn't compare to him. Perhaps in Hong Hui's eyes, his own so-called grand ambitions were just unrealistic fantasies. When he had tried to persuade Hong Hui on behalf of someone else, he remembered the deep, cold gaze that Hong Hui had given him... How could he have thought at the time that Hong Hui was stupid and ungrateful? Now, thinking deeply about it, he realized that the one who had been foolish all along was himself.
Should I really extinguish the flames in my heart and quit? What would Hongchang, Hongpu and the others think? Ha, he's being overly anxious, after all they have Thirteen Uncle and Sixteen Uncle to protect them... what about himself?
He let out a long sigh, unlike Hong Hui, he was unwilling to gamble with the lives of his wife and children.
……
Li Jing Wang Fu Jin Wu Lang Han Ji Er Mu Shi faced her son who was dismissed and sent back home, tears streaming down her face. After thinking it over, she had no other choice: "You leave, never take care of your mother again... go find the Emperor..."
"Mother." In that case, it would be unfilial to disobey Father and abandon Mother. It's a great sin of being unfilial! Yongchuan helplessly said: "How can we abandon Mother? Don't worry, it's just a dismissal from office, nothing will happen."
"This isn't demotion, this is your father wanting to rebel! Once this gets out, how can you still keep your lives? Mother can tolerate anything, not care about anything, but can't watch her son die... You leave, or I'll crash into the palace and die right here."
"Elder Sister——" Yong Chen and Yong Xuan were greatly shocked.
"Bang!" Hong Xi kicked open the door, his face icy as he glared at the three people in the room, "If you want to die, then die, but don't even think about taking half a step out of this house!" Want to go inform the Emperor? This is truly my good fortune!
The cold and stern gaze of Hong Hui made Wu Lang Han Jie Er Mu's heart skip a beat, and he straightened his chest to look back at him, "I don't care what happens, it has nothing to do with the kids, let them go."
"I'll let you go, but you have to wait a few more days." He turned around and walked away, coldly instructing the servants to guard the gate well and not allow them to leave.
Li Qianwang's wife was disheartened, "What to do? He doesn't even care about the father-son relationship anymore..."
"It's actually better to be locked up." Yong Xun replied expressionlessly. They couldn't understand their father's crazy behavior, nor could they stop him, and they couldn't abandon filial piety to report him to the emperor, being locked up... it's better this way.
……
The thoughts of his legitimate wife and son no longer mattered to Hong Hui now, as long as he sat on that dragon chair, everything would come back!
Looking up at the night sky, the darkness is vast and distant, the moonlight pours down, casting a layer of frosty white over the entire city, like the pale reflection of a sharp sword... In the sweltering heat of midsummer, only on nights like this can the people of the Aixinjueluo family sleep soundly, it's a good opportunity to make a move. But let's wait a few more days, the night is dark and windy, perfect for killing, isn't it?
His lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes narrowed, he had bet everything on this one game. If the Emperor truly regarded him as a nephew, then even if he failed, he would be left with a thread of life; but if it was just an act, then everything would end well too.
It's been two days again.
The weather is getting hotter and more oppressive, Yuanmingyuan was originally a summer resort, but at this time the flowers are in full bloom, and the gentle night breeze brings coolness, but also carries a strong floral scent, which adds warmth to the coolness. If Yongzheng had stayed late in the Qipolong Temple, he would have felt his head getting heavier due to the night breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers.
He is one of the few diligent emperors, if it were Kangxi or the future Qianlong, they might have gone to Chengde to avoid the heat early on, but he treated the Yuanmingyuan as a summer palace and lived between it and the imperial palace every year.
"Your Majesty, would you like a cup of vanilla tea before resting?" The little eunuch asked diligently.
"Let's have a cup." With the addition of lavender, Yunzhu made a sleep-assisting floral tea with several other flowers and herbs. The emperor, Li Rongbao, Ma Qi, and several princes over fifty who often suffered from insomnia suddenly had benefits. Drinking this floral tea before bed, combined with specially-made pillows, greatly improved sleep quality.
With the addition of specially made soothing incense, Yongzheng fell into a deep sleep despite feeling stifled.
The author has something to say: For the past two days, not only can't log in to the background, but even the page can't be opened, this Jinjiang is so frustrating~~~~ don't know when it will end...
The following is the main body of the text:
The night is cool and serene, with a bright moon hanging in the sky.
The Son of Heaven's anger is not to be underestimated, and although it may not result in the deaths of millions, it is still a terrifying thing. On the Dragon Boat Festival that year, after several slaves died from a bee attack, within two days, those who had committed crimes such as disrespecting the emperor, colliding with the master, and abandoning their lord in times of crisis were executed by beating. This was the internal response. Externally, the bee attack on the Dragon Boat Festival was treated as an unexpected event, and only a few princes who were close to Prince Li Xian were criticized and demoted.
As for Hongsheng, the eldest son of Prince Zhuang, this person has been close to Hongxi since he was deprived of his title as Crown Prince in the fourth year of Yongzheng. He still retained the title of Beile, but now he was demoted to a non-entry eighth-grade town prince, downgrading four levels. The little difference in managing the firearms camp was also removed, and only the title of Zhenghuangqi Manchu Deputy General was left on his body. Another one is Hongchang, who was demoted from Beizi to a non-entry eighth-grade auxiliary country duke, also falling by four levels. This is the biggest blow he suffered after his wife Nala died in January. Although Prince Zhuang's eldest son Hongpu still managed the Manchu General of the Inlaid Blue Banner, his title as Beizi was demoted one level and became a Feng'en Town Prince.
There was also a guard Si Bo who was dismissed from his post, he was the seventh son of Prince Cheng, in September 1722 he was adopted by Nian Gengyao (great-grandson of Fei Suo, the sixteenth son of Taizu), after Prince Cheng's death this adopted-out son had close dealings with Hongxi... It is laughable that the father of this Hongxi who openly followed him so loyally was in an opposing faction to the Crown Prince during the struggle for the succession.
When something happens to this person, many relatives who don't know the inside story also understand that the incident during the Dragon Boat Festival is related to Li Xianwang Hongyi, and the reason why those people were demoted earlier was because the emperor was trying to intimidate them.
After returning to the mansion, Hong Sheng sullenly faced his cousin, Prince Heng, who had come to visit him: "You always advise me to restrain my temper, but look, even if I do nothing, he won't let me off. Not entering the Eight Rank Town Country Duke, is it something to be proud of?!" He coldly laughed repeatedly.
Constant King's physical condition has been declining in recent years, and the only thing he worries about is this eldest son. Seeing that he still doesn't repent, he is greatly distressed. "This time it won't just be you who suffers," he said in a low voice. "You think you're clever, but you haven't seen clearly - this isn't a matter of whether or not you do something, it's the Emperor's determination to weaken Honghui's power. If you continue to get entangled with him, you'll end up on the same path as Hongshi."
Hong Sheng was shocked. Yes, the emperor could be so ruthless to his own son, how could he himself escape? But a stubborn spirit in his heart flared up instead, and he hated to say: "He is the emperor, naturally he can do whatever he wants."
"Under the heavens, everything is the king's land; within the borders of the land, everyone is the king's subject. If the king wants a minister to die, then that minister cannot but die. Who do you think you are? Just the eldest son of a prince, with some achievements and contributions, or perhaps having saved the emperor before, yet daring to imagine that the emperor would look at you differently, with special consideration?"
His eyes reddened and he gasped twice, Hong Sheng turned his head in disarray, "I didn't think that!"
"That's what you think! You think you're superior, that you have a lot of talent that can't be displayed, you think following Hong Hui... he will make you an Iron Hat King in the future!"
Even if he really thought so in his heart, under his father's sarcastic gaze, Hong Sheng suddenly felt that his own self-importance was just deceiving himself. However, when the Holy Ancestor was still alive, he was personally appointed as the Crown Prince by him, but now everyone looked down on him, and their eyes seemed to be laughing at him! He could understand Hong Hui's ambition, really, a great man cannot be without power for a day, especially for them, the dragon sons and grandsons, who lost to whom? Why do some people stand high above, while others have to sink into the mud?!
"No matter how I think about it, I didn't commit a crime but was stripped of my title - this is the truth!"
"Who says you're not wrong! You, Hongchang, Hongpu, your crime is 'forming a clique'! The Emperor's 'guilt by association' treatment isn't unfair, is it?! Prince Heng was known for his gentle and non-confrontational nature, but that didn't mean he lacked cunning or strategy. In fact, anyone who could navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial court during the late years of the Shengzu Emperor's reign without getting caught in the crossfire wasn't simple-minded. With a hint of venom, he said: 'Don't treat all your relatives like fools. You should be grateful that the Dragon Boat Festival bee attack didn't result in too many casualties. Otherwise, it would be hard to placate the anger of the imperial clan!'"
That day, many children who watched the dragon boat racing were only two or three years old. If such a young child was stung by several wasps, even if they could save their lives, they would likely suffer greatly. The Aixinjueluo family never lacked children who died young every year, and what the men of the Aixinjueluo family hated most was also the loss of their sons. Moreover, on that Dragon Boat Festival day, the emperor and his concubines were present at Fuhai, a grand dragon boat racing area that was rarely seen in over a decade. Many members of the royal family, including princes, dukes, and consorts, also went to join in the excitement... Hong Xi was disregarding everyone's lives.
"Is this what he did?!" Hong Sheng was somewhat shocked, "His family's Xiao Shi wasn't also on that day——" He himself had one wife and three concubines, and after twenty years of marriage, he only had three sons. A few years ago, his second son died suddenly from an illness, and his eldest son is now only six years old. He deeply felt the difficulty and thinness of having descendants, and although he was strict with his sons on the surface, in reality, he loved them dearly and couldn't believe that someone could be ruthless enough to use their own son as a pawn to be abandoned.
"So, he's ruthless and cruel, the lives of his loved ones have never been in his eyes." Prince Heng ignored his shocked face, slightly curled up the corner of his mouth, "This nephew has grown rapidly since the second brother was abolished that year, and these years have not been wasted, and he has made great progress."
"Get up, you're not going to live much longer either. I don't mind separating from the family early and living a peaceful life. Just be obedient and don't go out anymore. Otherwise, pack your bags and get lost as soon as possible, so as not to drag others down with you."
He has some talent, but unfortunately, he doesn't know the times and often does things that are not suitable for the occasion. At the beginning of the emperor's reign, when he needed people to support him, he himself avoided getting involved in too many political affairs because of his mother and ninth brother. However, this eldest son, because of these superficial reasons, handled everything carelessly and perfunctorily, which greatly angered the emperor who was already in a difficult situation. In the fourth year of Yongzheng, he was stripped of his position as crown prince. In recent years, he has also been involved with Hongxi...
I hope this demotion and dismissal can wake him up a bit.
Looking at his father's thin and distant back, Hong Sheng slammed his hand on the table and sat down in a chair. He knew that this was the last time his father would speak to him like this, and from now on he really wouldn't care about himself anymore. Although he held the position of eldest son, his younger brothers Hong Rui, Hong Yang, Hong Ye, and Hong Yan were not stupid either, and his father couldn't always stand behind him... He had understood this as early as the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign.
It's just that I'm not reconciled to it myself...
Once also a prince's son, but because of his young and arrogant fall from the clouds, can't turn over, could it be that he only brought shame to his father, not pride?
Thinking of his mother who lost favor because of Gualjia, Hong Cheng clenched his fists tightly. The resentment that had been supporting him for so many years was this sense of injustice. Why should Gualjia and her son receive their father's love, while his own mother lived in a cold courtyard for years, and he himself was swept out the door?
Sometimes I wish I could destroy everything!
With his hand on his forehead, how should he proceed in the future? Should he just admit defeat? He couldn't do that. Was he really going to follow Honghui's path to the end? As his father had said, the Emperor had been wary of Honghui for a long time and had been enduring... Apparently, the Emperor's patience had reached its limit. With the Emperor's methods, if they were determined to take action, there would be no luck to speak of. No wonder that over the past two years, his own power had become increasingly restricted, and the bad premonition in his heart was true...
All along, he looked down on Hong Hui, who had entered the Imperial Guard early and became a deputy commander after more than a decade. He thought that leading the army to guard the capital was just like being a patrol officer catching thieves, which was something people without abilities would do. Those with real capabilities would have already made their mark in the northwest or Macau. But now, he slowly began to think that Hong Hui's ability to walk steadily and unimpededly to this point was also impressive. At least, his composure was something he couldn't match. Perhaps in Hong Hui's eyes, his own so-called grand ambitions were just unrealistic fantasies. When he had tried to persuade Hong Hui on behalf of someone else, he remembered the deep, cold gaze... How could he have thought that Hong Hui was foolish and ungrateful at the time? Now, thinking deeply about it, perhaps the one who didn't understand was himself all along.
Should I really extinguish the flames in my heart and quit? What would Hongchang, Hongpu and the others think? Ha, he's being overly anxious, after all they still have Thirteen Uncle and Sixteen Uncle to protect them... what about himself?
He let out a long sigh, unlike Hong Hui, he was unwilling to gamble with the lives of his wife and children.
……
Li Jing Wang Fu Jin Wu Lang Han Ji Er Mu Shi faced her son who was dismissed and sent back home, tears streaming down her face. After thinking it over, she had no other choice: "You leave, never take care of your mother again... go find the Emperor..."
"Mother." This way, it would be unfilial to disobey his father and abandon his mother. Yong Chen helplessly said: "How can we abandon Mother? Don't worry, it's just a dismissal, nothing serious."
"This isn't demotion, this...this is your father wanting to rebel! Once this gets out, how can you still keep your lives? Your mother can endure anything, not care about anything, but cannot watch her son die a wrongful death...You leave, if you don't leave, I'll crash into the palace gates and die!"
"Elder Sister——" Yong Chen and Yong Xuan were greatly shocked.
"Bang!" Hong Xi kicked open the door, his face icy cold as he glared at the three people in the room, "If you want to die, then die, but don't even think about taking half a step out of this house!" Want to go inform the Emperor? This is truly your own good fortune!
The cold and stern gaze of Hong Hui made Wu Lang Han Jie Er Mu's heart skip a beat, so he straightened his chest and looked back at him, "I don't care what happens to me, it has nothing to do with the children, let them go."
"I'll let you go, but you have to wait a few more days." He turned around and walked away, coldly instructing the servants to guard the gate well and not allow them to leave.
Li Qīn Wáng Fú Jìn was stunned, "What to do? He doesn't care about father-son affection at all..."
"It's actually better to be locked up." Yong Xun replied expressionlessly. They couldn't understand their father's crazy behavior, nor could they stop him, and they couldn't abandon filial piety to report him to the Emperor, being locked up... it was better this way.
……
The thoughts of his legitimate wife and son, Hong Hui no longer cares about now, as long as he sits on that dragon chair, everything will come back!
Looking up at the night sky, the darkness is vast and distant, the moonlight pours down, casting a layer of frosty white over the entire city, like the pale reflection of a sharp sword... In the sweltering heat of midsummer, only on nights like this can the people of the Aixinjueluo family sleep soundly, it's a good opportunity to make a move. But let's wait a few more days, a night with a dark moon and strong winds is the perfect time for murder, isn't it?
A cold smile played on his lips, he narrowed his eyes, and he bet everything on this one game. If the Emperor truly regarded him as a child, he would spare his life if he failed; but if it was just an act, then everything would be over anyway.
It's been two days again.
The weather is getting hotter and more oppressive, Yuanmingyuan was originally a summer resort, but at this time the flowers are in full bloom, and the gentle night breeze brings coolness, but also carries a strong floral scent, which adds warmth to the coolness. If Yongzheng had stayed late in the Qipolong Temple, he would have felt his head getting heavier due to the night breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers.
He was one of the few diligent emperors, if it were Kangxi or the future Qianlong, they might have gone to Chengde to escape the heat early, but he treated the Yuanmingyuan as a summer palace and lived between it and the imperial palace every year.
"Your Majesty, would you like a cup of vanilla tea before resting?" The little eunuch asked diligently.
"Let's have a cup." With the addition of lavender, Yunzhu made a sleep-assisting floral tea with several other flowers and herbs. The emperor, Li Rongbao, Ma Qi, and several princes over fifty who often suffered from insomnia suddenly had benefits. Drinking this floral tea before bed, combined with specially-made pillows, greatly improved sleep quality.
With the addition of specially made soothing incense, Yongzheng fell into a deep sleep despite feeling stifled.
